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Edition

• K. Meyer (ed), 'A Medley of Irish Texts: XIII Aided Néill Nóigíallaig', Archiv für celtische Lexikographie III (1907) 323-324.

Manuscripts

• Stowe MS C. I. 2 (fol. 25a)
  

Date

• Middle Irish period
  

Characters

• Níall Noígíallach, king of Tara and the eponymous ancestor of the Uí Néill.
• Eochu mac Énna Chennselaig:  As the son of Énna Cennselach, Eochu would be affiliated with the Leinster Uí Cheinnselaig.  However, he is acting in the interests of the Saxons when he kills Níall.  The text does not specify the nature of their relationship.
  
• Gabrán = ?Gabrán mac Domongairt (d. 560), king of Dál Ríata.  Gabrán's floruit is about a hundred years later than Níall's.
• Fergus Annóit, son of Níall Noígíallach
• Boguine, daughter of Gabrán
  

Notes

• This narrative is part of the Cycle of Níall Noígíallach, the eponymous ancestor of the Uí Néill.
• A longer version of his death survives under the title Orcuin Néill Noígíallaig.  It differs enough from Aided Néill to be considered a separate story.
• Although he is prosecuting a legal blood feud, Fergus is killed because he committs díguin, a violation of the king's protection, in the course of avenging his father.
• Níall's death is also referred to in the Dindsenchas of Ochonn Midi (see MD II 36-41) as well as a number of annals.
• For an analysis of both recensions of the tale, see M. Ní Mhaonaigh, 'Níall Noígíallach's death-tale', in John Carey et al. (eds) Cín Chille Cúile (Celtic Studies Publications 2004) 178-191.
  

On the shores of the English Channel (Muir nIcht), Níall is approached by a stranger in expensive clothing who says that he will go as a hostage with the king to the house of Garbán, the king of Scotland.  As they approach the house, Gabrán and Eochu mac Énna Chennselaig come out to welcome him, but as they reach the top of a hill, Eochu puts an arrow in his bow without Gabrán seeing him and shoots Níall dead.  A skirmish then breaks out between the Saxons and the Gaels. 

Back in Ireland, the Uí Néill divide up their father’s lands and hold a meeting to determine who will travel back to Britain to avenge Níall’s death by killing Eochu.  The task falls to Fergus Annóit, who travels to Gabrán’s court under a special treaty.  During his stay, Boguine, the king’s daughter, falls in love with him and tells him how he can catch Eochu unawares after the king’s feast that night.  When Eochu exists the ale house drunk, Fergus carries him off and beheads him in the night.  Then Fergus and Boguine set sail for Ireland just as the king finds out what has happened.  A party is sent in pursuit and Fergus is killed by a bow-shot from the shore.  Boguine, however, makes landfall in Ireland, where she marries one of the Northern Uí Néill.